Tennessee · Fishing
Fishing in Tennessee
Tennessee puts a lot of different fishing in front of you without requiring much travel between spots.
200 spots9 townsUpdated dailyFree to access
View on mapFishing · 200 spots
Featured spots
All spots · 200
creekWild TroutFly fishing
Abrams Creek
Townsend, TN
rainbow trout, brook trout
Lake fishing
Apple Lake
Brentwood, TN
River fishing
Bald Mountains
Chuckey, TN
Lake fishing
Bedford Lake
Wartrace, TN
Lake fishing
Bee Lake
Henning, TN
Lake fishing
Beecher Smith Lake
Pikeville, TN
Lake fishing
Bells Aerated Lagoon Number One Lake
Bells, TN
River fishing
Big Frog Area
Ocoee, TN
Lake fishing
Big Hill Pond Lake
Pocahontas, TN
Lake fishing
Bill Wilks Swamp
Whiteville, TN
Lake fishing
Bluegrass Lake
Knoxville, TN
Lake fishing
Bobs Lake Number Two
Mount Pleasant, TN
Lake fishing
Bomer Lake
Brownsville, TN
Lake fishing
Brackens Lake
Finley, TN
Lake fishing
Bradford Swamp
Buena Vista, TN
Lake fishing
Browns Creek Lake
Lexington, TN
Lake fishing
Bumpus Mills Marina
Bumpus Mills, TN
Lake fishing
Burnett Lake
Deer Lodge, TN
Lake fishing
Butcher Lake
Clinton, TN
Lake fishing
Byrd Lake
Bells, TN
Lake fishing
C H Sullins Lake
Camden, TN
River fishing
Cades Cove Group
Townsend, TN
Pier fishing
Cages Bend
Gallatin, TN
Lake fishing
Cane Creek Lake Number Nine
Ripley, TN
Tennessee puts a lot of different fishing in front of you without requiring much travel between spots. The western part of the state is built around flatland lakes and oxbows — places like Robertson Lake near Memphis, Cane Creek Lake Number Nineteen near Ripley, and the Cypress Creek Number Ten Lake near Dresden offer accessible bank and pier fishing for bass, crappie, and catfish. Move toward the center and you hit bigger impoundments: J. Percy Priest Lake outside Nashville, Watts Bar Lake near Harriman, and Dale Hollow Lake near Byrdstown draw anglers after largemouth, smallmouth, stripers, and walleye depending on the season. Pier access at Cages Bend near Gallatin keeps things simple if you're not trailering a boat. In the east, the fishing changes character entirely. The Little River in Great Smoky Mountains near Townsend runs rainbow and brook trout at around 1,400 feet elevation and calls for moderate wading skills and a fly rod. The Elk River Tailwater at Tims Ford Dam near Winchester is a more forgiving entry point for trout fishing — the elevation sits at 820 feet, the current is manageable, and both rainbow and brown trout are present. With 304 active listings across the state, Tennessee covers a wide range of skill levels, water types, and target species.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Tennessee fishing license, and does it cover all the waters listed?
You need a valid Tennessee fishing license for virtually all public waters in the state. Some locations — particularly urban ponds and neighborhood lakes like Oliver Grove Neighborhood Pond near Arlington — may fall under special access programs that have their own rules, so check with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) before you go. A standard annual license covers most lake and river fishing statewide.
What's the best time of year to fish Tennessee's larger lakes like Watts Bar or J. Percy Priest?
Spring (March through May) is the most productive window on the big impoundments, when bass move shallow to spawn and crappie stack up near structure. Fall is a close second, especially for stripers and walleye on lakes like Watts Bar near Harriman. Summer fishing holds up early in the morning and in the last hour before dark — midday heat pushes fish deep and slows surface activity considerably.
Is the Little River in Great Smoky Mountains suitable for beginner fly fishers?
The listing rates it moderate difficulty, which is honest. The river holds rainbow and brook trout, but the streambed is rocky and the current can be pushy in higher water. If you haven't waded moving water before, the Elk River Tailwater at Tims Ford Dam near Winchester is a better starting point — it's rated easy, sits at 820 feet elevation, and the tailwater flow is more predictable than a mountain freestone stream.
What gear makes sense for Tennessee lake fishing versus the trout rivers?
For the lakes — whether you're at Dale Hollow near Byrdstown, Douglas Lake near Oak Grove, or pier fishing at Cages Bend near Gallatin — a medium-action spinning rod in the 6.5- to 7-foot range handles most bass and crappie situations. For the Little River in the Smokies or the Elk River Tailwater, a 9-foot, 5-weight fly rod is the standard setup. Wading boots with felt or rubber soles matter on the slick mountain streambeds.
Are there fishing spots in Tennessee that don't require a boat?
Yes, a good portion of the 304 listings are accessible without one. Pier fishing at Cages Bend near Gallatin is a straightforward option on the Cumberland River system. Bank access is available at many of the smaller lakes like Jennings Pond near Ripley, Shack Lake near Loretto, and Mont Milner Lake near Sewanee. The Elk River Tailwater near Winchester is wade-in access, and the Little River in Great Smoky Mountains is the same.
